Sony reveals S1 and S2 tablet details

Sony Wednesday revealed its S1 and S2 tablets in a limited press preview.

Sony Wednesday revealed its S1 and S2 tablets in a limited press preview.

Sony's tablets were first announced in April, when Sony revealed that it planned to release both a traditional tablet, the S1, as well as a novel clamshell model, the S2. Both devices will run the tablet-optimised version of Android, "Honeycomb," and there's no word on pricing just yet.

The traditional S1 tablet will be a Wi-Fi only device. The S1 features a 9.4-inch screen and is wedge-shaped, the company says this makes the tablet easier to hold and easier to sit on your lap. The S1 will come pre-loaded with both Qriocity and Crackle, Sony's cloud-based media services, and will also have PlayStation certification. In other words, the device will be able to run both PSP and first generation PlayStation console games.

Engadget reports that the S1's finish allows for easier gripping, and that the screen has a wide viewing angle, probably due to Sony's extensive experience in the TV business.

The S2 features a clamshell design, similar to the Nintendo DS's form factor. The S2 has two screens, each of which is 5.5 inches wide, that means the two screens together will be about as big as an average tablet screen. When the S2 is closed, the device looks a lot like an eyeglass case and should be easy to stow away in a coat pocket.

Like the S1, the S2 is also PlayStation certified, and will likely make a better gaming device. The lower screen can be used for controls. Sony plans to pre-load several games on the device. Both devices feature cameras, dual-core Nvidia Tegra 2 processors and the Android Honeycomb OS.

Sony still hasn't revealed a solid release date (aside from autumn), or any price points. I would venture to guess that, if Sony's serious about being a competitor in the tablet market, the S1 and S2 will fall in the £300 price range. There's a possibility that the S2 will be subsidised with a mobile contract, but only time will tell.